Garment pressing machine



Dee. 5, i s. T' DE V|T1Q 2,533,188

GARMENT4 PRESSING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1945 gg @f g5 o GA INI'UVTOR.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE Salvatore T. DeVitto, Chicago, '.Ill., assigner to Society `Brand Clothes, Inc acorporation of Illinois Applicatiengmy 4, 1945,..ser;ia1gno.ss1,94s

(o1. .ss-i5) 3 Claims. 1 This invention relates toa machine for pressing,garments and the like, and it is the object of" the invention toimprove such a machine so as vto produce improved results. In practicingthe invention, steam is employed for moistening and softening thegarment and for loosening the nap of the cloth, and the garment is thenshaped. pressed fand dried for causing it to hold the form imparted toit. It is important that the pressure on the `cloth be sucient forthoroughly smoothing the cloth and that the cloth be dried as,completely as is -practical while still held in smoothed condition, It.is accordingly Vone of the objects of the invention to provide for theprompt withdrawal of the steam from contact with the cloth after themoistening and softening eiiects have been attained so .as to expeditethe .drying and permanent setting of .the cloth in smoothed condition.

lt is one of the objects of the invention to provide .an .improvedpressing machine ,comprisl ing means for .applying a Suction .effect on.one

or both of the pressing heads of the machine throughout substantially.the entire pressing operation so as to be effective for drawing thesteam away from the .cloth `promptly after the steam has accomplishedits purpose. 'For effecting this result, a valve has been provided forcontrolling the connection of the suction means with one of 'thepressing heads, together with means for bringing about an automaticoperation of the Valve for throwing the suction means into operationwhen the Apressing heads are clamped upon a garment and for 'throwing.such suction means out of operation when the pressing heads arereleased. In the preferred construction, `the arrangement is such thatthe automatic action can readily be discontinued so as to leave thevalve operable `independently under the control of the workman. 1

It is another object of the invention to improve machines of this type`in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by whichlthe several objects have been attained are illustrated in the`accompanying drawing in which `AEig. l is a vvertice'.l sectional viewinside one of the :side frame members of a `machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view takensubstantially at the line 2 2of Fig. 1.

Eig. 3 .is la diagrammatic View showing the arrangement ofthe valveiorcontrolling the suction effectffand'ithe means foroperating'therva'lve #Fig 4 lis Aa -vertcal sectional 4view taken sub- .22.Stantially at 1the line 4 4 .of Eig. .3 .but .shown on an .enlargedscale. f

Fig'. .5 is .a vertical sectional view taken at the line .5.--5.of,Fig..1.

Fig. 6 is a @View similar to Fig. .5 but Ishowing a .changed position.of ,thepartsg and Fig. 7 vis .a view .similar to .a `portion .of Fig. 2but showing .a `changed .position of certain .of the :.parts.

.Referring now to .the 4several neures .of .the drawing .in which.corresponding parts are indicated by .the `same .reference characters,l0 .and l2 lindicate standards rising in spaced vrelation to each.otherttrom a .base 1.4. Y lvllounted upon the :framework .comprisingthe Vstandards It `and l2, .there .are .two .pressing heads of anyappropriate .type which are ,movable toward and `from each .other.intoand out of lpressure relationship. In the .arrangement shown, the.lower pressing head or buck ,'16 is .mounted rigidly in position. whilethe .upper .head jlIS .is mounted upon `a lever 29 pivotally mounted,between .the standards `l0 and `vl2 so .as to .be movable into and .outcipressure relationship to .the .lower .head or Vbuck I6. As is clearlyshown in Fig. l, the vhead .I8 is provided ,with .a .handle A2.2 .of.any .approved type by .which the positionof the'head can bereadilycontrolled. is shown iniig. L3., the .head .t8

hollow and lis provided with a pipe or tube 2.1

through ,which .livesteam may be `fed `into the interior .of .the ,headfor escape through .a series of openingen in the pressure faceoi thehead, the .admissionof steam beingcontrolledby.means of any .suitableVtype .of uvalve.structure .2,8 actuatedby alever .3.a (see Figi.)

.As `is .also .clearly `shown in Fig. e, Uthe lower head or .buck :'16.is .also .formed hollow with .a series `of openings .32.in its face,such head 'being in communication with -a .duct34 .for the .applicationAof a:suctioneflect .through said openings 32. .I n thearrangementshown,the duct 34 1s provided .with a valve 36 koperated by 4a handle or lever.-38, `a .coiled .spring 4 0 being provided servingnormally tohold.-.theva1v.e closed. The leverl3islprovided1-at its .outerend witha-vertiically positioned lin-k .42 extendingdownwardly to a `iootllever44 vmountedin position upon-.a bracket 46 rising from .the base .1.4.Theliead or `buck ljisalso .provided with 'al-pipe ucommunicatingtherewith for feeding steam to the `head for heating iit.

1n 'the arrangement shown, the operating lever 20 ,is actuated .throughthemedium oftwo pivotally .connected linlrs .4,8 .and .50, .the .link.50 being connected `with, the .lever '2.0 .by means comnrising' acoiled spring 52 adapted to yield sufficiently for accommodating variedthicknesses of material being pressed between the heads I6 and I8. Acounterweight 54 is preferably provided in adjusted position upon theouter end portion of the lever 20.

The link 48 is mounted upon a short arm forming a part of a bell vcranklever 56 pivotally mounted at 58 upon the framework. Toggle links 66 and62 are pivotally connected between link 48 and the framework of themachine comprising standards I6 and I2 and toggle link 62 is alsoconnected by means of a link 64 with a foot lever 66 pivotally mountedon the framework of the machine. The' arrangement is such that when thelever 66 is moved downwardly power is applied through the link 64 to the4toggle links 6U and 62 for bringing them substantially into alignedposition for pressing the power link 48 toward the left in Fig. 1 so asto move the lever 20 in clockwise direction in said Fig. 1 for pressingthe head I8 against the stationary head or buck I6. The short arm of thebell crank lever 56 is supported in such operationY by a lug 68extending upwardly from the base I4.

For applying a supplemental heavy pressure effect upon the head I8,means is provided for swinging the bell crank lever-56 through a slightangle in counterclockwise direction in said Fig. l. This means comprisestoggle links 'I0 and I2 pivotally connected between the upper end of thelever 56 and the framework comprising the standards I and I2, suchtoggle links being pivotally connected by a link 'I4 with a foot leverI6 pivotally mounted upon the framework. When the lever 'I6 is moveddownwardly so as to move the toggle links I6 and 'I2 into or towardaligned position with respect to each other, the bell crank lever 56 isswung in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 1 so as to raise the links48 and 58 slightly for very substantially increasing the downwardpressure of the head I8 upon the head or buck I6.

In the arrangement shown, coiled springs 'I8 and 80 are provided tendingnormally to hold the foot levers 66 and 'i6 in their raised positions. Adashpot 82 of any suitable type is preferably interposed between thefoot lever 'I6 and the framework for cushioning the upward movement ofthe lever '16.

Y The arrangement is such that the toggle levers are moved intosubstantilly aligned position by the downward movements of the footlevers so as to. be self-locking in their lowered positions. Forreleasing the foot levers 66 and 'I6 when desired so as to permit themto move upwardly, a foot lever 84 is provided comprising a transverselypositioned portion 86 extending underneath the lever 66 and a block 88positioned underneath the lever 76. The arrangement is such that whenthe foot lever 84 is pressed downwardly the block BBVrst presses thelever 'I6 upwardly for causing the toggle levers I6 and I2 tobuckleupwardly with respect to each other, after which the transverselyVpositioned portion 36 of the lever engages the foot lever 66 for movingit upwardly so as to cause the toggle links 66 and 62 to move intoangularrelationship'to each other. As will be readily understood, whenthe links 66 and 62 are buckled upwardly, the link 48 is drawn towardthe right in Fig. 1 serving to move the head I8 upwardly out ofoperative pressure relationship to the head I6. Y

In my improved arrangement, means is provided for operating. the footlever 44 automatically by the movement of levers 66 and 76. This 4 meanscomprises a cross-positioned lever 90 ex"- tending underneath the levers66, 'I6 and 44 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. This lever 96 is pivotallymounted by means of a horizontally positioned pin 92 in a bracket 94which is frictionally rotatably mounted upon a vertical axis within alug 96 rising from the base I4. The arrangement is such that when thelevers 66 and 'I6 are both in their raised position as shown in Fig. 6the lever 98 is turned to the limit of its motion in counterclockwisedirection in said iigure so as to permit the spring 4B to hold the valve36 closed. When thereafter the lever 66 is pushed downwardly into theposition as shown in Fig. 5, the engaged end portion of the lever 44 ismoved upwardly, causing the pedal portion of the lever 44 at the rightin Fig. 3 to move downwardly against the action of the spring 40 foropening the valve 36. By reason of this arrangement, the valve 36 iskept open through the entire period when the lever 66 is held in itslowered position, the valve'36 being permitted to'close by the action ofthe spring 48 only when both levers 66 and I6 are held in their raisedpositions. Y

With the head I8 in raised position, corre'-r4 sponding to the raisedpositions of the levers 66 and 'I6 as shown in Fig. 6, and with thelever 9U `in normal transverse position as shown in Fig. 2, a garment orother part to be pressed is arranged in position upon the buck I6'. lIhehead I8 is then moved downwardly into pressure relationshipl byv meansof the lever 66 or the levers 66 and'IIi, the operative downward strokeof thelever 66 serving to swing the lever 96 in clockwise direction inFig. 6 for effecting the opening of the: valve 66 so as to produce asuction effect through the openings 32 in the face of the head or buckI6. After the head I8 has been clamped inpo'sition, the valve 28 is thenopened for the desired,

period for the ejection of steam through the openings 26 in the face ofthe head I8 for moistening and softening the garment or other insa-iteria! being pressed. By reason of the application of a suction effectcontinuously during theV ejection of the steam and thereafter, the steamisj shownin Fig. 6, the spring 46 is permittednto; close the valve 36for terminating the suction ef-` fect through the head I6.

By reason of mounting the lever 86 upon a.. bracket which is rotatableabout a verticalaxis.`

the lever 96 can be swung through an angle of 90 into the position asshown in Fig. 7 for discone necting the lever 44 from the lever 65 so asto` permit the lever 44 to be operated independently of the levers 66and 16.

While I prefer to employ the form and ar-` rangement of parts as shownin my drawing andl as above described, the invention is not to be;limited thereto, except so far the claims may;-

be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made inthe form and arrangement of the parts without departing from th spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for pressing garments and the like, the combination oftwo heads, means com-` prising a lever for moving one of said headsinto. and out of pressure relationship to the other, said heads being atopposite faces of the material to assaiss be pressed, means for ejectingsteam through the face of one or" said heads into Contact material,means for subjecting mate suction effect through the face of the ci saidheads for withdrawing the steen material, said suction means comp imeans and a second lever alongside of named lever and operable in onedireeti operate said valve means to apply the suction effect and urgedin the other direction to operate said valve means 'to terminate theapplicau tion of the suction eiiect, and means comprising a third leverin cross relationship to said other two levers adapted by engagementwith said iirst and second levers to give said lever a movement in thedirection for applying a suction effect on said material when said ni i'named lever is moved in the d io.. ing the heads into pressurerelationship to each other and adapted to permit said second lei/er to Vmove in the direction for terminating the application of a suctionei'ect on said material when said irst named lever is moved in thedirection for separating said heads.

2. In a machine for pressing garments and the face of one of said headsinto contact with the material, means for subjecting the material to asuction effect through the face or" the other of said heads forwithdrawing the steam from the material, said suction means comprisingvalve means and a second lei/er alongside oi said first named lever andoperable in one direction to operate said valve means to apply thesuction eiiect and urged in the other direction to operate said valvemeans to terminate the application of the suction eiect, and meanscomprising a third lever in cross relationship to said other 'two leversadapted by engagement with said rst and second levers to give saidsecond lever a movement in the direction for applying a suction eect onsaid material when said first named lever is moved in d the directionfor bringing the heads into pres-I sure relationship to each other andadapted to permit said second lever to move in the direction forterminating the application of a suction ei'- feet on said material whensaid first named lever moved in the direction for separating said heads,said third lever being movable out of position for engagement with saidfirst and second levers so as to leave said second level` operableindependently.

3. in a steam and vacuum pressing machine, a multiple pedal controlcomprising a first pivotally mounted pedal controlling application ofpressure, a second pivotally mounted pedal in transverse spaced relationto the iirst for controlling the application oi suction, an intercontrol'member pivoted intermediate its ends on an axis transverse to the pivotaires of said pedals and extending beneath the rst pedal in advance ofits pivot and under the second pedal to the rear of its pivot whereby ondepression of the first pedal the rear end of the second pedal is raisedto depress the second pedal in advance ol its pivot, and a support forsaid intercontrol member mounting said member for swinging movementabout an axis transverse to its pivot to permit swinging of the memberfrom an active position between the two pedals whereby the pedals may beoperated independently.

SALVATORE T. DE VITTO.

REFERENCES CITED lne following references are of record in the :tile oithis patent:

UNTED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 387,294 Gessner Aug. 7, 1888782,845 Gassner 1 Feb. 21, 1905 946,915 Gessner Jan. 18, 1910 1,389,434Buff Aug. 30, 1921 1,501,585 lnarker July 15, 1924 1,556,625 PomeroyOct. 13, 1925 1,595,996l Clincostram Aug. 1'7, 1926 1,698,943 Davis Jan,15, 1929 1,832,521 Zacharias Nov. L17, 1931

